Remarks on the cultivation of the Tulip. 189 



the bed, passing as much of it through a coarse sieve as will 

 cover the tops of the bulbs;* the residue of the soil may be 

 put on with a shovel, in an even manner, all over the bed, 

 which will place the crown of the bulbs about four inches 

 below the surface; the bed may then be rolled over, and 

 crowned up as before stated, and the planting is finished. 



PROTECTION DURING THE WINTER. 



As soon as the winter has fairly set in, and the frost has 

 penetrated the soil some three or four inches, cover the bed 

 with sea-weed, boughs, or other light substance, not more 

 than two inches in thickness. The covering should be se- 

 cured against the effects of the wind, by placing some heavy 

 substance across the bed. In the spring, as soon as the win- 

 ter is broken up, the covering should be removed, when the 

 bulbs will be found to be pushing through the soil. 



TREATMENT IN THE SPRING. 



From the time the tulip bed is uncovered to the period of 

 their bloom, the bed should be kept clear of weeds, and the 

 surface, between the plants, should be loosened every ten or 

 twelve days; this should always be done when the weather is 

 fine and the foliage of the tulips dry; great care should be 

 taken that the plants be not injured, or the flower buds broken 

 off. A kw days previous to the plants coming into bloom, a 

 frame, or tulip-house, should be erected over them, with suit- 

 able awnings, so arranged on rollers and pulleys, that the sun 

 and air can be admitted or excluded, as the state of the wea- 

 ther may require. 



The erection of a proper tulip-house is attended with some 

 expense, and it will not be supposed that every cultivator or 

 amateur of the tulip will erect one; but if the bed contains 

 choice kinds, their beauty would soon be destroyed, unless 

 some measures were taken to protect them from the rays of 

 the hot sun. This may be done in various ways: but, as there 

 may be some cultivators who may be desirous of having a 

 proper tulip-house, such as I have had constructed, the an- 

 nexed engraving, (fig. 10,) of one is given. This is copied 

 from an excellent work called the Floicer Garden, by JNIr. 

 Mackintosh, and is erected in the same manner as my own. 



* This operation should be very carefully performed, or the bulhs 

 will be thrown out of their places, and turned upon their sides. — Ed. 



